Our motto at ESTHERS Children is to change the world one child at a time.  Even if we are only successful in transforming the lives of ten children, if they go out and do the same thing for ten more children, we have helped reach one hundred more children.  And what if those one hundred children reach ten more children?  But it all starts with just one child.

ESTHERS Children was founded in May of 2006 by Emily and Jennifer Sutherland.  The vision of ESTHERS Children began in Emily's heart in July of 2001 during a short-term mission trip to Recife, Brazil.  Emily was overwhelmed by the reality of the existence and vast numbers of street children, especially girls, and knew she needed to do something to help.

In July of 2005, God spoke to Emily about starting her own non-profit organization that would partner with local ministries to start substitute family homes for children, primarily girls, living in at-risk conditions in an effort to prevent them from becoming street children or being sold into child prostitution.  Shortly after, Emily and her daughter, Jennifer, began taking the steps necessary and making contacts in Recife, Brazil to pioneer the work of ESTHERS Children.

In March of 2007, after much hard work and many trials, ESTHERS Children opened their first substitute family home, Esther's House, in Recife, Brazil.  Shortly after opening Esther's House, we were introduced to a local community outreach program that serves more than 600 children in a nearby slum through after school and weekend Bible school programs.  In January of 2008, we officially formed a partnership with SAC, the local NGO that oversees this community outreach program, which gave us a local presence with the work we are doing in Recife.

Our Founders

Jennifer Sutherland

During my first trip to Brazil in 2001, I could not comprehend the reality of street children.  And after my first experience working with them, I was left with an impression that has forever changed me.  Coming from a society where children actually living and sleeping on the streets are very few and far between, I could not wrap my mind around the vast numbers of children I saw living and sleeping on the streets, dirty, hungry, and abused.  My goal for ESTHERS Children is not only to re-write the future of a handful of children, but to be an advocate on behalf of children at risk world-wide in an effort to mobilize people with the resources and tools to do something to reach out to them and help provide a life for them that all children deserve and ought to have.  Am I going to help every child living in at-risk situations?  No.  But I am able to help at least one.  And it all starts with just one child. As a young child I was taught to love my neighbor as myself, a virtue that has stuck with me my entire life.  But who is my neighbor?  If I see a child in need of food, shelter and clothing on my doorstep am I going to reach out and help her?  If I see that same child down the street am I going to help her?  What about if I saw that same child on my way to work, am I going to help her?  How about if I saw her in another state, am I still going to help her?  How about if I saw her in another country, am I going to help her?  This child and millions of others just like her around the world are crying out for our help.

Emily Sutherland

Board of Directors

Emily Sutherland President and Co-Founder; Executive Director - ESTHERS Children International

Sandra LeBlanc Vice-President; Translator - International Rotary, Corporate Cross-Cultural Trainer

Jennifer Sutherland Treasurer and Co-Founder; Project Coordinator and Administrative Assistant - ESTHERS Children International

Rachel Venema, PhD Secretary; Professor of Social Work Calvin College

Perry LeBlanc Member; Owner Del Printing

Michael Sutherland Member; Certified Prosthetist Wright & Filippis, Instructor Baker College

Cyndi Wehrli Member; RN, Mary Kay Director

Our Staff

Global Partners:

US Corporate Partners:
The KR Group, Phil Rienstra
DEL Printing, Perry LeBlanc
Redeemer United Reformed Church